New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-08-10
When to secure Hay.

hay can be obtained by allowing grass
to remain till the seed is ripe, or at
least fully formed before it is cut. The
seed OF several kinds of grass is quite
heaVy. Grass gains in weight after
the stalks have attained their full
height. Matured grass contains more
woody fiber and less water than that
which is immature. It is also quite
easy to cure in good weather, as there
is comparatively little moisture to
eVaporate. Its keeping qualities are
good. The hay made from mature
grass is not likely to become moldy.
If it is not bright in color, it is sweet,
and devoid OF a musty smell. Most
persons who buy timothy hay for feed
ing to work animals prefer that which
was made from grass that was well ma
tured when it was cut. They state that
it is nearly all eaten and dieested.
They regard hay made from nature
grass as too laxative for horses that
are kept at steady work. Farmers who
raise hay for the market will find it to
their advantage to supply the article
that BUYERS want They will have
more tons of hay to sell from a given
number Of acres if they delay harvest
ing till the grass is quite we'll matured.
For mich COWS there is no
doubt about hay made from unripe OF
immature grass being the best 1t is
more like the grass they eat in the
pastures during the summer It is
easy to masticate and easy to digest,
while it will produce large amount of
good milk. Mich COWS take little ex-
ercise during the winter and they do
not require as solid food as work
horses, mules, and oxen do. Hay made
from grass at full blossom has an
agreeable aroma and flavor, which are
conveyed to the milk given bv the
cows that eat it. Dairymen prefer hay
made from early cut grass. Such hay
is also preferable for all kinds of grow
ing stock. Animals should have ten
der hay to eat during their first winter.
Their teeth are not strong, and their
digestive organs have not attained their
full power. Colts and calves will gain
but little if hay made from mature
grass is their only or principal food.
They will reject much of this kind of
hay, and large proportion of that
which they do eat will not be digested.
They will thrive best on early cut hav
and rowen. If these prove to be too
laxative they prefer bright straw to
HAY made from grass that was cut
when ripe.
Most forage plants are nearer stage
OF perfection at the period OF full bloom
than at any other time. The blossoms
themselves form valuable food, being
sweet and aromatic Forage plants are
generally in full foliage when they are
in full bloom. Their stalks are then
comparatively tender. Seed forms at
the expense of sap contained in the
stalks and leaves. As the blossoms
disappear the stalks begin to grow
hard, and the leaves to turn yellow or
fall of. Nearly all medicinal plants
possess their highest value during the
period OF poisoning, and that is the
time recommended for gathering and
drying them. Most plants used, for
making hay will gain in weight if
allowed to remain some time after they
have blossomed, but the gain. in
quantity is generally at a loss in
quality. There is no advantage in
securing more tons of hay from a. green
field if a large proportion of it is reject
ed by all kinds of stock or is eaten but
not digested. Grass should be cut and
cured at the time it possesses the,great-
est feeding value, and this will general
" be at the period of poisoning.
Ii farmer has a very large amount
of cultivated grass it may be impossi-
BILE to cut it all when it is in the best
condition. He may be obliged. to let
some of it stand until it is nearly ripe
before he can secure it. He can gener-
ally use it to good advantage for feed
ing to his work horses. II. grass, is un-
usually heavy it is best to cut and cure
it before it lodges, even if it is. NO. adj
vanced to perfect blossoms. Grass and
clover that have blown down. and been
brought in contact with tho: ground
makes very poor hay. The leaves are
likely to become moldy and to. be iniu-
rious to stock. The stalks will have a
yellow color and a disagreeabla taste.
Lodged grass and clover ,rc very diff
cult to cut with a machine on 9 hand
scythe They are also hand to cure,
and furnish very poor food after they
have been put il, the barn or stack. It
is naHch easier To- harvest two crops Of
grass or clover that, are in. an upright
position than che that is. blown down,
the stalks being broken and tangled
Now that mo;Ning machines and horse
rakes are in general use the labor of
making hay is Light if the plants that
are to be cut are standing in their nat
aral position
Rich and tolerahy moist land, in
favorable seasons, will often furnish
two crops of nay. 1t generally will if
it prodaces variety Of grasses and
iclovers~ a rich and moist soil will
prodace large and coarse plants if they
4 are allowed to grow TIL they reach
maturity, and the hay made from them
viii not be relished By milk cows or